Book-holder



(No Model.)

I. S. MUDGETT.

BOOK HOLDER.

' No. 279,787; Patented June 19,1883.

WZZW/ws N. PEYERS. Phulo-Lhbognphor. Washington. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

ISAIAH S. MUDGETT, OF PRINCETON, MINNESOTA.

BOOK-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279,787, dated June 19,1883. I

Application filed March 1.", 1983. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern Be it known that I, ISAIAH S. MUDGETT, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Princeton, in thecounty of Mille Laos and State of Minnesota, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Book- Holders; and I doherebydeclare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin gdrawings, and to letters or figures of reference mark ed thereon, whichform a p art of this specification.

This invention relates to a device for sup porting open books inconvenient position to be read, its object being to provide a steady anddurable book-support, which may be readily adjusted to support the bookin a convenient position for the reader, and which will receive and holdopen books of various sizes.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinationsof parts, which will be hereinafter particularly dcseribed,and pointedout in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of abook-support coir structed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is avertical section through one of the sliding back-supports and the mainsupportingshelf.

The letter A designates a vertical standard, the foot of which isremovably inserted in a socket in a triangular base-block, B,to thesides of which are secured diverging projecting arms 0 O, which form anextension of the base. To the vertical standard A is fitted anadjustable sliding arm, D, through an opening in which thestandardApa-sses. Be-

hind the standard the arm D is provided with a rigidlyattached block, E,through which passes a clamp-screw, F, the tip of which is arrangedtobear against theback of the standard and hold the arm D at any desiredpoint of vertical adjustment. To the forward pro jecting portion of thearm D is transversely secured a book-supporting shelf, G, which isslightly inclined. In the opposite ends of the shelf G are formedtransverse dovetailed grooves or recesses, in which are arrangedcorrespondinglydovetailed slides H H, from the rear portions of whichproject upward the back-supports I I, which are secured at their lowerends to brace-blocks i i, which are in turn secured to the slides. Infront of the back-supports I I the shelf G is provided, near its frontedge, with cleats K K, which bridge'the transverse recesses in the shelfand lie above the slides H H. The back-supports I I support the backs ofan open book, and the cleats K Khold the leaves down. Behind the blocks1 77 openings or slots are formed in the slides H H at the point Z, andnear the front edge of the shelf G are formed similar openings at thepoint Z, which intersect the transverse recesses in said shelf.

Referring to Fig. 2, the letter M indicates an elastic band,which liesunder the slide H, and has one end passed upward through the opening insaid slide at 7, and the other end passed downward through the openingin the shelf G at Z, the projecting ends of this band being secured onthe upper side of slide H and lower side of shelf G, respectively. Eachof the slides H is connected with an elastic band, as shown in Fig. 2,and the tension of these bands is such that they will draw the slides IIforward and hold the back-supports I normally in contact with the cleatsK. 2 I have shown the back-support I back a little from the cleat.

The diverging arms 0 O of the base are pro vided with adjustable slottedfoot-pieces n, which may be swung downward and adjusted to elevate thefront ends of said arms 0, and may be secured as adjusted by means ofthe thumbscrews 0 0. The object of these foot-pieces is to enable thebook-support to be tilted back to place the book at any inclinationwhich the reader may find convenient, or so as to suit the same to aninclined desk.

In using my improved book-support the book is opened and its back placedagainst the back-supports I I, which are then pressed rearward until thefront of the book sits down behind the cleats K K. The lower end of theIn Fig. pressed book then resting upon the shelf G, the elastic level,and may be there secured by again tightening up the screw. When it isdesired to turn a leaf, either of the slides may be pressed slightlyrearward and thus snifieiently loosen one side of the book to enable theleaf to be turned.

Vhen the book-support is not in use it may be taken apart by removingthe standard A from its socket in the base B, loosening the screw F, andremoving the arm D from the standard. The parts may be then laid awayuntil required for use.

Having now fully described my invention and explained the operationthereof, I wish it to be' understood that I do not confine myself to theprecise shapes of the various parts shown in my drawings, but may varythe same in any manner for the better carrying out of my inventionwithout departing from the essential principle thereof.

hat I. claim is 1. The combination, with the vertical standard and baseand adjustable arm D, of the boolcsupporting shelf G, secured to saidarm and provided with the cleats near its front edge, and theautomaticallyadjustable booksupports I I, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the standard and base, the shelf G, adjustablyattached to said standard and having transverse recesses and cleats nearits front edge, ofthe slides arranged in said recesses, theback-supports projecting upwardly from said slides, and the elasticbands M, secured at their opposite ends to the said slides and theshelf, respectively, substan tially as described.

3. The combination, with the standard, adjustable book-supporting shelf,and attachments, as described, of the base B, provided with thediverging arms 0 C, and the adjustable foot-pieces n a, substantially asdescribed.

4. The herein-described book-support, consisting of the standard A,mounted on a suitable base, the arm 1), adjustable vertically on saidstandard, the transversely-inclined b0ok-supporting shelf G, secured tosaid arm and provided with transverse recesses and cleats K K, bridgingsaid recesses,thc slides H H,arranged in. said recesses, thebacksupports I I, project ing upward from said slides, and the elasticbands M,lying in said recesses under the slides, and having theiropposite ends secured to the rear portions of said slides and to thefront portion of the shelf, substantially as described, and for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAIAH S. l\IUI)GETT.

' \Vitnesses:

E. \V. JOHNSON, LAMECH DUVALL.

